For those who want to eat delicious Ramens in Amsterdam but don’t know where to go ! Here I will introduce my recommended restaurants and Ramens! You might easily find your favourite Ramen just by looking at this !
1【Sapporo Ramen Sora】A place for people who want to try Ramen for the first time !
I will start the list by recommending Sapporo Ramen Sora. They have two restaurants in Amsterdam: one in De Pijp and the second in West. I would recommend the place as they serve basic, but really nice Ramens. In other words, they don’t do anything fancy or elaborated, but what they do, they do it well.
Should you be interested, my recommendation for you is their Miso Ramen. I like it as it comes with nice yellow curly noodles imported directly from Hokkaido (Japan). Moreover, this is a Ramen restaurant that has got a high level of consistency. No matter when you go, the Ramen you order will always be qualitative and well cooked. Also, this is a place where you will not have to wait long to get your bowl served to you, which is always appreciated.
However, the restaurant in De Pijp is always crowded, so be prepared to wait, or if you don’t want to wait, I recommend going right when it opens ! Please note that reservations cannot be made ! I have the impression that getting seated at West’s restaurant is relatively easier and faster.
2【Vatten Ramen】When you want to eat a delicious Ramen near Centraal Station
A delicious Ramen restaurant conveniently located near the station. However, its location also comes with a downside as the place is often crowded. But their food is worth the waiting in line. If you go there at lunch time, when it opens, you can usually get seated right away. But you will have to wait to get seated most evenings. Previously, you could only make reservations by calling them, but recently you can also make reservations using Google Maps.
My recommended Ramen is their chicken-based : Vatten Ramen. It’s a Tori Paitan Ramen with a simple chicken flavour that is rich and creamy at the same time. In my opinion, the bowl stands out as it is not greasy unlike many Europeans Tori Paitans. This makes it one of my favourite bowl among all the Tori Paitan Ramens in Amsterdam. It may be a little different from an orthodox Japanese Tori Paitan, but it’s definitely good. However, it’s a little bit more expensive (18 euros) than the average price (around 15 euros). But If you want to eat a nice Tori Paitan, please try it!
3【Ramen Impossible】For vegans who want to eat delicious Ramen
I never though that a Ramen could be vegan… But Amsterdam has got a place where you can enjoy an outstanding plant-based vegan Ramen ! I’ve been there several times already and the quality of what you get is really impressive. The ingredients always taste fresh and the soups are full of Umami. In my opinion, the strong point of this place is their soups who are always very flavourful, without being loaded with salt. It makes it even more incredible that they only use vegetables to cook it.
I recommend everything on the menu, but I especially like their Miso Ramen. As mentioned, the soup is delicious, but the garnish is also interesting. The yuba cutlet that comes with the bowl is indeed a nice addition as it brings some crispiness the bowl. Moreover, the good thing about vegan food is that you can eat it without feeling guilty. I often go here when I’m in the mood for some healthy meal.
4【Fou Fow Ramen van Woustraat】When you’re in the mood for refreshing salt Ramen
Fou Fow Ramen has two locations in Amsterdam : De Pijp and Jordaan. As the one in Jordaan is always crowded, I often prefer going to the other one in De Pijp.
I like this place as the food you get may not be super fancy, but it is still very much enjoyable. Indeed, it is not as qualitative as Ramen impossible (see above), but you can still get some nice comfort food there. My recommendation is their Shio (salt) Ramen. It’s a nice chicken-based broth with a light mackerel flavour. I personally enjoy it as I think it is refreshing and comes with some nice sea aromas. Moreover, I find it really easy to eat as it does not have a strong taste and is rather light. It’s recommended when you’re in the mood for some refreshing Ramen. For example, I like it during summer when it’s hot outside and I crave something light and aromatic.
As for the noodles, they are smooth and chewy, and go well with the broth. I’ve eaten most of their Ramens on the menu, and the Shio Ramen is by far the best. I would also recommend their Tori Lemon Ginger (which has the same salt base broth) if you already had their Shio.
Although it’s not Ramen, there is also a restaurant called ”Fou Fow Udon” that specializes in Udon (obviously…) I basically love noodles, so I sometimes go there when I’m in the mood for Udon. I also like this place as you can enjoy some nice chewy and authentic handmade Udon, just like what you would get at a Sanuki udon shop in Japan. I recommend their basic Kake Udon as I like to keep it simple. If you also like udon, please give it a try!
5【Fuku Ramen】When you feel like eating a fancy Ramen
I believe this place to be the best Ramen restaurant in Amsterdam.
To be honest, I’ve been there so many times that I’ve lost count of it. Besides, this place is not only just a Ramen restaurant as the bowl is only the main dish of a larger course. Therefore, you get many different starters and dishes that are not Ramens, but are always delicious.
However, you cannot pop there without reservation, so you’ll need to plan ahead and make a booking. Nonetheless, the place is super popular and it’s hard to get a reservation. But if you don’t give up and check out their Instagram, you might sometimes get a last-minute reservation opening, so be sure to check it out. Moreover, on Sundays only, they have something called a “social Sunday” where you can walk-in without a reservation and order a Ramen à la carte ! Honestly, their food is expensive compared to the average Ramen’s price, but their Ramens are really unique. Besides, the menu changes weekly, so you can enjoy a variety of different Ramens. Every Ramen is delicious and made with the chef’s special care. If you like Ramen and want to enjoy a level of quality that is even better than in Japan, please give it a try!
6【JapaKen】For those who want to eat an authentic Japanese Tonkotsu Ramen
I see Tonkotsu Ramens on the menus of various restaurants in Amsterdam, but is it really Tonkotsu…?
I can assure you that JapaKen‘s one is an authentic Tonkotsu Ramen made 100% from pork bones and cooked by a chef from Fukuoka. At the moment, he does not have a fixed restaurant. But if you want to try it, he serves food at the Japanese-Korean Delicatessen Shilla (Gelderlandplein) in Zuid on every Thursdays and Sundays at noon. Honestly, I think that if you eat his Tonkotsu Ramen, you won’t be able to eat a Tonkotsu Ramen from other restaurants anymore. Besides, he also serves an excellent Omelet Rice if you fancy something else than Ramen.
